***

I was a little creature, a mouse of some sort, trapped in a labyrinth, running though large tunnels. I was a beacon created for a specific purpose I was told not to think about. I didn’t have the luxury of time for thoughts though.

A dark purple liquid was chasing me. I stop and I die, take the wrong turn and I die. I realized I knew the labyrinth pretty well. All I had to do was take the right turn. But I also realized along the road that my memory was hazy. It felt as though I was beginning to forget the map of the labyrinth.

I ran faster, fear gripping my heart. I squealed like the little mouse I was as some of the purple liquid touched my tiny toes. It burned like acid. I had to run faster, lead it to the place it needed to be. The walls of the labyrinth around me emitted some acrid smoke. The situation didn’t bode well.

I turned right at the next intersection. It felt as though some voice, deep within the confines of my tiny brain, was leading me the right way. I ran some more until I reached another intersection, the dark liquid still following. The downside about being a mouse is that you quickly run out of breath. The upside, I was slippery. The liquid wouldn’t reach me if I kept dodging left and right.

I took another turn, to the left this time. I had to keep going, I was getting close, I could feel it. I had to keep the liquid chasing me. It mustn’t turn its attention toward the labyrinth walls, or the other thing. I mustn’t think of the other thing! That was the plan. The energy could destroy the walls and then I’d be submerged, dead. I wouldn’t allow that, I mustn’t.

Wave after wave crashed at the intersection. The liquid was filling the entire tunnel. I had no choice but to run faster. My tiny lungs couldn’t take that. I urged them, I begged them to endure and carry me forward.

‘Just a little further,’ I begged. ‘We’re almost there.’

I ran and ran, for what felt like an eternity, until I reached my destination. There was a large hole through which the liquid would fall and seep away. I had to jump it, get away with my life. The liquid won’t reach me. I’ll be watching it from the other side, trying to submerge me but unable to. Thank the gods for gravity. Thank the gods for my tiny body and my solid, springy legs.

I picked up speed, despite my lungs protesting, and jumped. Higher and higher I went. For a fragment of a second, it felt like I was flying. I was smiling. I felt free, free from the danger behind me, free from worries and pain. I landed at the edge of the hole and fought to regain my footing. I succeeded.

I stood, facing the raging dark aura, smiling. It was heading my way, getting larger and larger as it approached. The walls of the labyrinth wouldn’t take it any longer. My safe haven, my home, would be destroyed. This hole was my only chance.

‘Come on you bastard!’ I urged the dark liquid to arrive.

‘Come and get me!’

And it obliged. It came rushing in, burning the walls as it closed in on me. Then it fell. Down the hall it went. My smile couldn’t have been wider! I let out a long sigh of relief and looked up at my nemesis.

My smile immediately vanished. The hole was getting larger. The corrosion from the dark liquid spread through the other walls and was eating away at them. My heart began beating faster. My legs hurt and my heart ached even more. The dark purple liquid suddenly found a way to overcome the barrier. Numbers trumped the obstacle. There was too much of it to seep through one tiny hole.

I couldn’t create another either. Doing that would mean the destruction of my home. I had another pressing matter though. The liquid was coming my way again. I knew what to do. I had to run again. It would take some time but at least I’d be safe. The other thing was already doing its job.

I mustn’t think about it, I reminded myself. I shook the thought away and ran.

I had to drag the liquid back to its origin. I received the instruction from the voice deep within. The helpful voice was always there for me. It ensured my survival for so long. It wouldn’t let me down, I knew it.

So I ran again. Up I went and the liquid followed, raging, destroying. The walls wouldn’t take any more of this. I had to run faster. If only I had more legs. Better yet, if only I had wings. But I had none. I had to make do with what I had.

I turned right, then left, then right again. Now I was ascending, then I was descending. I didn’t know for how long I’ve been running. I stopped caring about that a while ago. I had to survive. And that meant ignoring the pain, fighting through it. The dark liquid was getting closer now. The walls around me were stained purple.

Lead it to its source. That was my primary directive. I had a feeling everything would get better once I’ve done that.

‘Don’t think of the thing,’ I urged myself.

I suddenly found myself faced with a new problem. I didn’t remember where I was or where I needed to go. It felt as though the connection I shared with the helpful voice disappeared. That wasn’t good, not good at all…

The liquid was upon me. It swept me away and I felt my fur burn first. I was drowning in acid. I screamed and swallowed it all. More pain and more suffering…

The last thing I saw was a giant crystal structure at the end of the tunnel.

***

I opened my eyes, panting. What a strange dream!

I inspected my back and was pleasantly surprised. The pain had disappeared. I waved my arm around. It was fully operational! I couldn’t believe it.

I immediately sat down and regulated my breathing. I concentrated on my Conduits and I soon could picture them with my mind’s eye. They were cracked and badly damaged. But only my energy flowed through them.

My plan had worked!

I had to lure the Fragment’s energy away, and I needed to do it fast. So I created a concentrated ball of my own energy inside the Conduit in which the power struggle happened. I lured the energy away, while I repaired the damaged ones as soon as the Fragment’s energy went past. The tricky part was to avoid the damaged Conduit long enough to allow the Fragment’s energy to flow though my entire body.

It did one lap around then I led it back to its source though the torn Conduit. I had to weaken it before I sealed it inside. I learned enough about repairing the cracked Conduits. I used that knowledge then led the Fragment’s energy through the torn one. As soon as the harmful energy was sealed, I went back and repaired the critical damage.

I’d hit two birds with one stone. I weakened the strong energy from the Fragment by leading it into the tear then took my time repairing it as the Fragment chased the bait.

I got up after I made sure everything was under control. I shouldn’t attempt fusing with the Fragment unless I’m not under any pressure. I was sure the fusion would take a tremendous amount of time, which I didn’t have.

I remembered Utar and his posse. I looked out the window to see that the sun had already risen. By its position, I had about two hours until midday. It was now or never. I had to leave this place without being spotted.

Freezing time must be my last resort as well.

I learned, again the hard way, that freezing time required drawing energy from the Fragment. Once my Conduits were opened, I couldn’t use the ability freely. You know the risk by now…

I carefully stepped out of my room and crept through the corridor. The rooms were empty by now. Agatha was imprisoned somewhere, probably beside Zoey. Eli had left a week ago. It feels as though years have gone by since then. I debated whether I should get in touch with Raiya or not. I could ask for Agatha’s head. I still haven’t forgotten about my revenge.

‘Oh, you’re awake,’ a voice reached out to me.

Upon contact, I felt the Fragment’s energy struggling to burst through the seals I’ve put. Damn you ghost! Are you trying to kill me?

‘What do you want?!’ I snapped.

‘You’re leaving,’ she said, ‘sneaking out, are we?’

‘There’s no we,’ I retorted. ‘You’re on your own now!’

‘Come on!’ the ghost gave a semblance of a grunt then went on; ‘we can help each other out!’

‘We’ve been through this before, haven’t we?’ I said.

I had just reached the stairs. Raiya would definitely by in the lower floor by now. I had to step lightly now.

‘I won’t try to possess you this time, I promise.’

‘I’m leaving you behind,’ I firmly said. ‘You’re her problem now.’

‘I’ll tell the demon you’re awake then,’ she retorted in a childish tone.

‘Here’s the thing,’ I replied. ‘Sisha won’t attack me. He and the warlock owe me. But you… I’m not sure what’ll happen if he finds out you’re trying to contact me again.’

‘Myles, please,’ the ghost went on. ‘We share a deep connection now. You know why I fought so hard to survive, even in this weak form! And I know more about your past than you do. We can help each other out. I know you want to.’

‘No I don’t,’ I retorted. ‘Please go away now. They’ll detect me if you keep talking.’

“Myles!” Raiya’s voice reached me from behind.

Shit!

‘They can hear you speak, but they won’t hear my voice!’ Eva said. ‘Don’t reply. We’ll speak soon. I’m sure I’ll convince you to take me with you.’

Like hell I would! I ignored the ghost and turned to look at the warlock.

“You’ve recovered?” she looked astonished.

“I had a good night sleep. I woke up like this!” I said, grinning and waving my arm around.

Always keep your cards close to your chest and feign ignorance when somebody suspects you. Look stupid and they believe you. Give sound and solid alibis and they’ll suspect you even further.

“What are you doing here?” I asked. “I thought you’d be with Agatha downstairs, torturing her for information.”

“I am,” Raiya answered. “It’s just a projection, see?” she waved her hand and her body blurred as it moved. “What’re you sneaking around for?” she asked.

“I heard something when I looked out the window earlier,” I lied. “I couldn’t see anything so I came down to have a closer look.”

Raiya frowned. I didn’t take my own advice I guess…

“You’re right!” she suddenly hissed then cursed. “Get down here! Quick!”

I heard a door creak at the foot of the stairs.

“What’s happening?”

“The Church is already here,” Raiya replied. “Damn it! We have to fight!”

WE?!